Mumbai doctor accuses Sajjan Jindal of rape, sexual assault for two years; Steel group baron denies allegations

Mumbai: A controversial issue that has sparked mixed public reactions is gaining significant media attention. This pertains to a 30-year-old female doctor who has come forward with allegations of rape, sexual harassment and sexual assault against Sajjan Jindal, a well-known industrialist and the Managing Director of JSW Steel.

The doctor, a resident of Juhu had filed a complaint at Bandra Kurla Police Station on December 13 alleging that Sajjan sexually harassed her for a period of two years. 

Later, the police registered an FIR under sections 376 (rape), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code and the case is under investigation. 

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According to TNIE reports, the complainant claimed that the police did not fully cooperate with her and barely jotted down a statement when she approached them on February 16, 2023. She alleged that the police neither gave her a copy of the statement nor filed an FIR. "Finally, on December 5, 2023, I filed a writ petition against the police in the Bombay High Court. After the court order, the FIR was filed,” she said.

Following this, the police have booked Jindal on the abovementioned charges and is yet to be summoned for questioning by the police. 

According to the complainant, she was introduced to Jindal at an IPL match inside the VIP Box of the International Stadium, Dubai on October 8, 2021, during the COVID pandemic. They exchanged contact details and started chatting on WhatsApp when Jindal sought to meet the victim, an ex-beauty pageant winner.

In December 2021, the woman said she had gone to Jaipur for an event where she again met Jindal and they talked and chatted. As per the victim, Jindal allegedly tried to get cosy with her, calling her with words like 'babe', and 'baby' and insisted on meeting in a hotel, despite her suggestions to meet in a public place.

There, Jindal displayed his romantic inclinations, assured her full privacy in a hotel room and even offered his credit card details for personal use which she declined.

Her complaint alleged that in her name on December 24, 2021, Jindal booked a suite at a five-star hotel in Bandra West, Mumbai. They met and Jindal reportedly shared his marital problems, he allegedly hugged the victim and attempted to kiss her, but she spurned his overtures.

Later, Jindal purportedly asked her to send him her revealing photos but she ignored and he also tried to lure her with offers of a bungalow, car and business help.

When she demanded to make their relationship legal with a registered marriage, the Jindal Group Sajjan allegedly refused, citing societal norms, yet proposed they could live as 'husband and wife' abroad, but she refused to budge.

According to a mid-day news report, on January 24, 2022, the complainant had gone to his office in BKC when he invited her to see the penthouse. There, Jindal allegedly forced her to have oral sex in the bathroom of his office. However, she claimed that she rejected and reacted angrily following which Jindal allegedly calmed her down, asking her not to create a scene in his office, and also said that he would marry her.

The doctor claimed that she felt traumatised by his conduct and sexual exploitation causing great mental and emotional agony, resulting in her filing the complaint in February, after which the accused attempted to dissuade her with offers of money to withdraw the case. She also alleged that Jindal allegedly threatened her with serious consequences if she did not leave him alone.

“I sent him a WhatsApp message on June 28, 2022, saying I wanted to talk about whatever had happened, but he blocked my number. I was hesitant to approach the authorities due to his stature but the events had taken a toll on me, and my family noticed this. When they asked me what was wrong, I told them the truth and they encouraged me to file a complaint, after which I submitted an application at the BKC police station on February 13 this year,” the complainants’ statement says. 

In contrast to the accusations, Jindal has denied the allegations and defined them as "False and Baseless". "He is committed to providing full cooperation throughout the investigation. As the investigation is ongoing, will refrain from commenting further at this stage. We kindly request you to respect the privacy of the family," reads a press release.

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